‘Tha doso ta panta gia na ime mazí sou.’
Before she could ask he translated.
‘I will give anything to be with you. Anything.’
‘Adoni?’ Her voice cracked. It was too much—far too much—after a week nursing a shattered heart. ‘What do you want from me?’
‘You. I want you, Alice. On any terms you like. Come and live with me, or I’ll live with you in Devon. Or marry me.’ He paused, his features grave. ‘Above everything I want to marry you, but I understand that might be asking too much just yet.’
Alice wished she were strong enough not to reveal how his words affected her, but she wasn’t. This week had sapped her strength. Walking away from the man you loved did that.
She clung to him, fingers curling around his. ‘Don’t talk like that! I know you don’t want to marry.’ It hurt that he’d say it, when she knew it wasn’t possible.
For answer he scooped her up in his arms and strode to the padded bench seat in front of the portrait. He sat and settled her on his lap. Alice felt the hammer of his heart against her and his rough breathing teased her hair.
‘I want marriage, Alice, because I want you, for ever. No contracts, no lawyers, just two people pledging themselves. Itrustyou, Alice. I believe in you.’
She stared up into those stunning eyes and realised he spoke the truth.
Something caught at her chest. Hope?
‘When you left I knew I’d been wrong, clutching the past. I knew I wanted you, no matter what. I love you and I want us to be together, simply because we love each other.’ His voice dropped to a low note that tugged at her very core. ‘I want a chance to prove myself and win your love, Alice. However long it takes.’
It was too much to take in. Too much like the daydreams she’d harboured though she’d tried to be sensible. She shook her head. Instantly he stiffened.
‘Please, Alice. I need you. Give me a chance.’
‘I’m trying to understand.’
‘Maybe you’ll understand this.’ He tilted her chin and placed his mouth on hers. It was a gentle kiss, so tender, so tentative. A mere brush of soft lips, the silken slide of his tongue, the shuddering breath of a man on the edge.
Suddenly it was too much, and not enough. Her caution disintegrated and desperate yearning took over. Alice speared her hands through his thick hair. She opened her mouth, sucking his tongue inside. Adoni met her caress for caress, till she saw stars and her whole body was afire.
When he pulled back enough to meet her eyes, he looked both triumphant and desperate.
‘Tell me you’ll give me a chance. I need—’
‘You don’t need a chance, Adoni.’ Alice kissed the corner of his mouth, stunned and grateful that she had the right to. ‘I fell in love with you in Greece. I think I even began falling for you that first night.’
There was awe in those eyes that ate her up. And pride and possessiveness and love. Alice guessed they mirrored what was in hers.
Happiness welled, a surge of glorious feeling such as she’d never known. Here, on Adoni’s lap, surrounded by those strong arms, caught in his hard embrace, Alice felt she’d finally come home.
‘You’re willing to take a chance on me, Alice?’
‘I am, Adoni. If you are.’
‘Always,karthia mou. For ever.’